Attractiveness

[

So hold on

Hold on to your heart

]

As the song reached its culmination, Renly paused for a brief moment before his voice surged into higher registers. His slightly raspy voice tore through, unleashing a burst of emotions.

At this moment, everything else faded into insignificance. It was only the guitar, only the voice. He sang out with all his might, pouring out the deeply scarred soul, interpreting the myriad wounds deep within his heart. A hint of sobbing emerged in his nasal tone, igniting warmth within the depths of his eyes.

A simple yet earnest lyric, spun into a melodic tapestry, wove a poignant romance. It felt as if one were sprinting across an endless ice field, without a finish line, without a path, without even a point of reference for comparison.

White—nothing but boundless white. The white glacial ice that had been frozen for countless years gradually deepened in hue, evolving from pure white to rich azure. This color transformation resembled the contours of time, rapidly spinning beneath the steps of his stride. The vastness, grandeur, magnificence, and astonishment of nature's ever-changing landscape condensed into a mere human lifetime. It was both overwhelming and profound, almost crushing the soul.

Before conscious realization, tears streamed down uncontrollably.

"La la, la, la la la..."

The melody grew increasingly lively, the singing more joyful. However, within the dancing emotions of the strings, a sense of sorrow began to pervade. He was immersed within his own thoughts, unable to break free. He couldn't even distinguish the taste on his tongue, merely allowing himself to rise and fall amidst the surging emotions—sadness, joy, pain, happiness, bitterness, sweetness... Only he could truly comprehend them.

Halfway through, Renly played only half the song, then released his fingertips, abruptly ending the melody. The strings continued to vibrate, the gentle resonance merging with the air, leaving faint, unfinished notes lingering like a soft hum. It was as if one could see golden light trickling gently from the deep black strings, quiet and warm.

No one spoke. The entire studio fell into silence, devoid of any sound. Even the sound of breathing seemed to vanish. No one wished to break this tranquility.

"Cough, cough." Ellen cleared her throat twice, shattering the quietness, "So... is this the end?" Her voice even sounded slightly unnatural, "I mean, such a beautiful song, it's already over? Isn't that right?"

The last sentence was directed at the audience, instantly winning their hearts. Whistles and screams erupted, followed by audience members rising to their feet, applauding vigorously. One by one, the applause spread, a continuous wave of standing ovation that shook the hall.

Even Ellen stood up, offering her applause.

Ellen understood better than anyone that none of this had been prearranged. Everything had unfolded spontaneously in the moment. In less than thirty seconds, Renly had not only composed a moving melody but also crafted such exquisite lyrics. The former was difficult, and the latter, even more so.

Ellen was no outsider; she had spent twenty-four years in the industry. She knew that music composition wasn't a simple task—it was, in fact, incredibly challenging. Now, she had witnessed this grand achievement firsthand. Creating something from nothing, from zero to a hundred, this process was so miraculous, it could even be called a wonder! Spectacular, truly unparalleled brilliance!

Standing and applauding, this was merely a way to express their excitement and admiration, the most insignificant way.

Watching the sea of applause before him, Renly picked up his guitar, slightly bowed as a gesture of gratitude, and smiled to acknowledge everyone's support. However, this only ignited the applause in the studio even more fervently, surging and boiling.

"Wow." As soon as the applause subsided, Ellen couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "Wow! I guess this is something you're used to, right? But for us, it's truly a tremendous impact."

"No, not really." Renly shook his head with a chuckle, "This is my first time performing in front of so many people. To be honest, I was a bit nervous just now. Rachel, I know my capabilities are quite limited, but at the very least, I hope you can continue to persevere. Lastly, I hope Max finds peace."

Rachel, who had already been forgotten by everyone, stood up in disbelief. Her eyes were swollen like peaches, and now they brimmed with tears once again. She tried to say something but found her voice choked up, unable to utter a word. She merely covered her mouth and nodded repeatedly.

She knew this song was meant for her. The lyrics, as intricate and cryptic as Shakespearean sonnets, held within them the sorrow and grief of parting, the torment and hardship of a painful life, the loneliness and desolation of the vast world. These emotions seeped through the lyrics and mingled within the melody, easily shattering all her defenses, touching her soul.

"That's good to hear. It's my honor." Renly's smile softened slightly. This song was dedicated not only to Rachel but to every child at Sinai Mountain Hospital and even to himself.

"Wait a minute, are you saying this is your first time performing in front of such a large audience?" Ellen finally remembered this detail and inquired in astonishment.

Renly nodded, glancing at the three hundred-strong audience before him and the staff who had gathered at some point, "The biggest audience I've performed for before... um, I'm not sure, maybe around... 80 people? 90 people?" Village Vanguard's capacity wasn't particularly large.

"Are you kidding me?" Ellen looked incredulous, obviously having a hard time believing it. Renly's expression remained unmoved, and Ellen realized he wasn't joking. "Thank goodness I insisted just now, otherwise we would have missed out on such a splendid performance."

Applause resounded again in the venue. Renly broke into a wide smile, "So, about the deal we talked about earlier?"

"Of course, no problem!" Ellen readily agreed, "Now I'm even more curious about something else—what's the name of the song you just performed?"

"How about you give it a name?" Renly had temporarily emptied his mind of the creation he had just completed and had no particular ideas for a song title.

"Me?" Ellen showed surprise, Renly earnestly nodded, confirming it. Ellen then clapped her hands and burst into laughter. Sincere warmth shone in her eyes as she continued, "I'll need to seriously think about this. I've never been involved in the creation of a song before. I mean, my job is naturally incomparable to yours, but just being part of this process makes me happy."

In connection with this, Renly's mood also soared. He tapped his left wrist, where no watch was actually worn, and said, "Tick-tock, tick-tock. It's best not to waste time on the show."

"Hey, this is my show, you don't get to tell me how to schedule time." Ellen defended it like a mother hen protecting her chicks, speaking resolutely, "I want to give it more time. It's so precious." Ellen's excited expression drew light chuckles from the audience.

"Your Bones," Renly suggested, "What do you think of this name?" Once it was out, Ellen seemed to regret it, "Is it too simple? Your lyrics are so wonderful, shouldn't we think of a better name?"

"No, this name is fine," Renly felt a whimsical sense in the scene and a smile naturally graced his face.

"Really?"

"Really." Looking at Ellen's disbelieving expression, Renly could only earnestly nod, "I'm serious. "Your Bones", that's the name of this song."

Only then did Ellen reveal a brilliant smile, "Ladies and gentlemen, the first single by Renly and me has been officially decided—"Your Bones". Welcome everyone to download and support it when it's released." Her words triggered laughter throughout the venue. Ellen paused, then turned her head towards Renly, her expression slightly anxious, "You will complete the recording, right? I mean, you'll enter the recording studio and finish recording this song, right? I really don't know how to sing."

Renly burst into laughter at her panic-stricken expression, "Of course, this is our debut single after all. How could I miss that?" Renly raised his right hand and traced a banner-like finger in the air, "Behold, "Renly & Ellen", the most anticipated new folk duo of 2011."

Seeing Renly's deadpan expression and Ellen's starry-eyed look, the entire audience erupted in laughter.

"Today's interview is coming to an end. Unfortunately, we couldn't conduct more interviews about the movie." Ellen noticed the director's gesture and had to wrap things up; they had really lost track of time today. "I heard that for the film "Buried", you personally experienced the feeling of being buried alive in a coffin?"

"Yes." Renly picked up the pace slightly, "It's a very special movie, and the challenges for actors are quite severe. I have many disadvantages but not so many advantages. In order to not ruin the script, I truly experienced the sensation of being buried alive, spending almost eight hours inside a coffin."

"Are you crazy?" Ellen widened her eyes, her face painted with disbelief, "Oh my god, I really should watch the movie again in the theater. No wonder your performance is so stunning and profound." Ellen shook her head in amazement, "One last question, besides acting and composing, do you have any other talents?"

"I think that's something for everyone to gradually discover." Renly smiled and said, "After all, if I want to come back to the show for another interview, I need to keep the audience curious enough."

This humorous statement prompted laughter in the venue. Ellen also smiled contentedly, nodding repeatedly, "Of course. So, next time, I welcome you to the show to showcase your talents and captivate all our viewers." After finishing her sentence, Ellen turned to the camera, "Audience, that was Renly Hall. I hope you'll go to the cinema to support the movie "Buried". It's a work absolutely worth watching. Maybe you'll see me and Portia again on the big screen."

Ellen beamed a wide smile, "Thank you, Renly. After the break, we'll be back."

Then, Ellen stood up and spread her arms wide, not expecting that this time Renly would make a disgusted expression and refuse the embrace, making Ellen momentarily dumbfounded. The audience burst into laughter collectively.